How to Say "mother" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “mother” is “madre” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi madre es muy simpática.
My mother is very nice.
Voy a llamar a mi madre por su cumpleaños.
I'm going to call my mother for her birthday.
La madre de mi amigo es de Argentina.
My friend's mother is from Argentina.
Always a 'She'
'Madre' is a feminine word, which means you always use 'la' or 'una' before it. For example, 'la madre' (the mother) or 'una madre' (a mother).
'Madre' vs. 'Mamá'
Mistake: “Using 'madre' when talking to your own mother in a casual setting.”
Correction: While 'madre' is correct, 'mamá' is much more common and affectionate, like 'mother' vs. 'mom' in English. You'd call out, '¡Mamá!' not '¡Madre!'
Other Meanings of “madre”
“madre” can also mean:
- Figurative, e.g., 'mother of all battles'.(B2, formal)
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